Not long ago heads would turn when a sleek new Tesla drove past. Now they are commonplace. And most of the other ‘traditional’ manufacturers are offering electric powered models as well. So the tipping point* for electric powered automotive vehicles is rapidly approaching if not already here.
The recreational boating market appears to be poised to begin a similar journey. Simply google electric power boating terms and you will discover new entries every day, across all marine sectors, from startups to mainstream, and from manufacturers around the world.
In 2019 this writer visited the Seattle Boat Show to find eco-friendly products for boaters. One of the themes for this edition of the show was Electric Power. One of the vendors, Pure Watercraft, was showcasing their latest prototype - a 40 HP electric drive leg - bolted onto a 90 year old wooden sea sled. It was magnificent to see the old classic with a sparkling new low profile drive leg. Naturally this caught my eye - and the interest of a future partner - General Motors.
Pure WaterCraft Partners with GM
In 2022 GM acquired a 25% stake in the Seattle based company - Pure Watercraft. The 2019 prototype has since been refined into a commercial product and now offered for sale as a stand alone electric motor system or built into a number of turnkey electric propulsion boat packages.
www.purewatercraft.com
Catch my original 2019 interview on the trade show floor with Annie and Ed of Pure Watercraft here:
The Green Boater TV on Youtube - Pure Watercraft
Once these products hit the water, they will turn heads. Mark my words, like the Tesla example, in a few years they will be just another electric boat on the water!
~TGB
*Definition of tipping point : the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.